Hey All,
We have been on a few trips as a family, but haven't for a few years. In the past we have tripped in our Bell Northshore. I'm wondering if we have out grown one canoe and should split into two canoes, or if our Northshore would still do the job?

Four people (me, my wife, 10 year old & 13 year old.

I would rather stick with one canoe but wondering what your experiences are.
Thanks!
SB

Your situation is about when I split into two canoes.

You should think about two things. One is the extra room and comfort for the kids. On the other side, you would have to rely on a 10 year old to paddle, which might not be the best.

You could consider getting a solo. That would leave the 10 year old able to stay in the middle on longer paddles and one of the adults or the 13 year old could be in the solo.

I have 2 kids (ages 6 & 10 currently). My 10 yr old son is an avid kayker so he takes his solo kayak and my wife and I along with our 6 year old go in our Wenonah MN II. We have to double portage as I carry his kayak and we also tie a long rope off from our canoe back to his kayak. It works great if you are not doing long days or lots of portaging.

aruthenb: "I have 2 kids (ages 6 & 10 currently). My 10 yr old son is an avid kayker so he takes his solo kayak and my wife and I along with our 6 year old go in our Wenonah MN II. We have to double portage as I carry his kayak and we also tie a long rope off from our canoe back to his kayak. It works great if you are not doing long days or lots of portaging. "

Splitting makes sense but wind might be a problem if there's only one strong paddler in the canoe. I remember being on Caribou and watching a similar 2-canoe family unable to get up and around a windy point, they were short on horsepower.

Maybe that rope trick could work in a headwind, tow the kids?

We went for a 2nd canoe last summer, kids 12 and 10. The 2nd canoe was a solo so that we could still have one person rest/duff in the middle of our normal 17 ft canoe if they weren't up to paddling much.

My 12 yo son actually had most of the solo canoe time and he did great and loved it. The kids also had a lot of fun paddling the solo around themselves in the bay we were camped on most of the weekend.

We have 3 kids and used a mn3. Once the oldest turned 14 and was a good paddler we added the spirit 2. We decided when the kids got bigger than me.

The Northshore will definitely still do the job, assuming you pack efficiently. The advantage of sticking with one is you can cover a lot more distance a lot more easily, and will be safer in iffy weather, as Fadersup said. Obviously one less canoe to haul around.

The advantage of splitting is it will foster a sense of pride, independence, and accomplishment in your kids, and their skills will develop faster. They are at the age where they can handle it.

For my family (10 and 12), whether we go with one or two depends on the conditions and length of trip.

Thanks for the thoughts. I'll have to ponder this a while.
SB

I think a lot of this decision is dependent on how tough a route you're taking.

If it's a leisurely route, possibly with layover days built in, or base camping with day trips etc., two canoes would probably be fine and have it's advantages.

If you're planning on covering a lot of ground each and every day, might want to stick with 1 canoe one more year..

If you have enough room for the packs, I would stick with the Northshore for now

Blatz: "If you have enough room for the packs, I would stick with the Northshore for now"

I agree, I’d give it a couple years. But it wouldn’t hurt to get a smaller tandem like the Polaris (North Star). And work into the two canoe senario.

Do an easy trip to an entry lake with two and see how it goes. You could still use just one for a longer day trip.

I've been in the stern with a youngster in the bow in a heavy wind and it damaged our relationship for a while as I had to bark orders; it wasn't received in the same spirit in which it was intended. So, you'll want to prep the kids in advance about that scenario.

I was 12 when my Dad and two brothers took are first BWCA trip in 68.

My brothers were 14 and 18.

They had one canoe my Dad and I in another.

Even thou I had been using canoes and paddling for 4 or 5 years.

It was tough for me to handle paddling all day on big water and waves.

I was a string bean.

Now at 14 it was a different story.

My son and I went when he was 15 he did most of the paddling as I fell and cut my arm from elbow to wrist the day before we left.

He did a great job

A couple of years at that age makes a huge difference.

I used to take 11 and 12 yr olds and they did fine. I’d take them up out of Moose to Knife and see Dorothy. An adult in the stern... one time we hooked a ride the last stretch on Moose Lake because the water was to treacherous. Glad there was motorized boats that day. My oldest son was with at three years old. That rounded off my dad, myself and my son got to see Dorothy. We had three in a canoe.

I have had similar experiences to other posters. I have two sons, 14 and 6 currently, and we started doing family BWCA trips 3 years ago with my wife. The Northstar Northwind 20 works great for us for 5-7 day trips. We need to watch the size and number of packs but everyone appreciates their own seat and a little leg room. We tried a MNIII our first year and it was too small for us.

I saw a similar change as RiverRunner described in the strength and paddling ability of my older son between 12 when he did his first trip and now. At 14 he can paddle in wind and waves much better, carry a kevlar tandem canoe over most portages and handles 40# packs without complaint. I have no concerns about his ability to be a good tandem canoe partner in the bow seat. But at 12 it was tougher and I found myself “barking” orders to him out of frustration on windy days with similar tension and hurt feelings described by Lundojam.

We may eventually try a 3 seater and a solo canoe on family trips but probably not for another couple of years. I am with Blatz and Nctry and recommend you stick with the Northshore another year or two.

It depends entirely on you and those kids. Nothing we say can be generalized to you and yours. Take it all with a grain of salt and make your own informed decision.

But, here is my two cents:
My kids have had three trips with wife and I in our Northshore. Last one we did Crooked Loop, 2 years ago. We left Thursday bay and got out at dark and fished some along the
way. Many underestimate the drag of the wetted surface in this boat that is over 36" wide for at least 6' of it's length. So.. I know what my kids and that boat can and can't do.

This summer will be our first trip in two boats. My son (11) and I fish local rivers a lot. He knows the drill, and if need be we ride backward for trim purposes, me in stern. My daughter (13 soon) is taking the stern with my wife up front. This has been tested on local ponds and will be further tested before we go on increasingly longer paddles.

This trip will be short on distance, basecamping. The only sure way to beat wind with kids is to avoid it. I can also solo either boat if need be, to give some contingency options.
Ultimately, we are out of leg room when loaded, but we are ready for cautious growth. My daughter seems more happy to go than before. Lots to say here but I have said it all in other threads. Search them out.